What do fertility drugs for women do?
For many infertile couples, fertility drugs are the first step in treatment. Fertility drugs work by increasing the levels of certain hormones in your body. These hormones help to mature and release one or more eggs each month (
ovulation). If you
ovulate rarely or irregularly, fertility drugs could help you.
Many fertility drugs have been used safely and successfully for decades. However, some can result in
severe side-effects and a higher chance of multiple pregnancy. You will have to weigh your desire to have a baby against the chances of having side-effects and of
carrying twins or more. A fertility specialist will monitor you with blood tests and ultrasounds, significantly reducing the risks.
What fertility drugs for women are available?
The most popular fertility drugs for women are:
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All these help ovulation to happen, but the drug that is right for you will depend on the reason why you’re having difficulty ovulating and
conceiving.
Clomiphene citrate Clomiphene citrate blocks the effect of the hormone estrogen in your body. This blocking effect tricks your body into bumping up levels of two other hormones that are essential for
ovulation. These two other hormones are:
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- luteinizing hormone (LH)
FSH causes the eggs in your ovaries to ripen, ready for release. LH triggers the release of one or more mature eggs from the ovary follicles. The egg or eggs then move down into one of your fallopian tubes.
You usually take clomifene in pill form for five days of your cycle, for up to six months
(NICE 2013). Brand names for clomiphene citrate are Clomid or Serophene.
Gonadotrophins Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are types of
gonadoptrophins. LH and FSH directly stimulate your ovaries to produce and ripen eggs.
You can be given LH and FSH as a course of injections over about 12 days. The injections make your ovaries start to develop and mature egg follicles. The injections of LH and FSH will be followed by a final injection of another hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).
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LH and hCG tell your ovaries to release the egg (or eggs) that they have just developed. Both hormones are used in some fertility treatments, because both hormones have an action on your follicles. LH stimulates the follicle to release the egg. hCG ensures the follicle is in the right condition to release progesterone and therefore help to maintain a pregnancy.
There are several brand names for gonadotrophins. Pregnyl, Luveris, Ovidrel, Gonal-F, Repronex, Menopur and Puregon are the most common ones used in Canada.
Want to ask other women about their experience of fertility drugs? Visit BabyCenter Canada’s
community.
